Rehearsal photo by Ashlee Macdonald, with (left to right) Ella Reitz (Amanda), Shirel Harrus (Brandy), and Mack Barr (Beth)
I am thrilled to invite you out this week to catch a performance of my new play Hear Us Roar at the University of Utah! Hear Us Roar is about a collegiate water polo team in the late 90's, and also happens to be my first attempt at a sports play. Why, oh why, would I pick water polo for the stage? I like a challenge, but also I know the sport pretty well through the endless tournaments my kids play at, and my husband coaches at. Water polo is tough, and rough, and for those of us who don't play, seems utterly impossible at times. The play is set at a time the sport received a small explosion in popularity, and I think water polo is long over do for another.
Rehearsal photo by Ashlee Macdonald, with (actors in scene left to right) Stevie Anson (Jack), Ellie Lyman (April), and Ella Reitz (Amanda).
The performances are a culmination of a months long workshop, where director Alexandra Harbold, movement director Call Vande Veegaete, water polo dramaturg Audrey Kessinger, our fabulous and fearless cast, and myself tried to figure out how we could evoke the feeling of water polo play on stage without water or a ball or an elaborate lifting systems. Have we gotten it? You can be the judge!
Rehearsal photo by Ashlee Macdonald, with (left to right) Ellie Lyman (April), Kailey Gonzaga (Megan), and Shirel Harrus (Brandy).
The reading and light staging of Hear Us Roar will be performed this week, November 20 - 23:
November 20 @ 7:30
November 21 @ 7:30
November 23 @ 2:00 and 7:30
Click here for tickets and more information.
Rehearsal photo by Ashlee Macdonald, with (actors in scene left to right) Stevie Anson (Jack), Kailey Gonzaga (Megan), and Isis Freiberg (Sabrina).
And where are these amazing rehearsal process photographs coming from? A brilliant friend of mine, Ashlee Macdonald, is a documentary photographer and asked if she could document our workshop. Of course I said YES! I'll be posting more after the performances this week, or check out more right now on my Instagram.
Rehearsal photo by Ashlee Macdonald, with (left to right) Akina Yamazaki (Crystal, aka Cheese), CoCo Berwald (Erin), and Ellie Lyman (April).
See you Thursday? Or Friday? Or Sunday? I hope so!!!